FUNDACAO CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN

Their core work

The Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC) is a leading Portuguese life sciences research institute operating under the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Their core work spans fundamental biology — from cell division and chromosome mechanics to host-pathogen interactions and innate immunity — using model organisms like Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. They host and train international researchers through a strong portfolio of ERC grants and Marie Curie fellowships, and contribute to European life science data infrastructure through ELIXIR. Their research directly feeds into understanding disease mechanisms in infection, inflammation, and developmental biology.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), IGC concentrated on classical molecular and cell biology: Drosophila genetics, innate immunity, chromosome architecture, and mouse phenotyping infrastructure. From 2019 onward, the portfolio shifted toward more integrative and quantitative approaches — biomechanics, mathematical modeling of evolution, AI-assisted super-resolution microscopy, and host-microbiome interactions (SymbNET, MAGI). The recent projects also show increased participation in large collaborative efforts with a technology and imaging component, suggesting a move from purely fundamental biology toward quantitative and computational life sciences.

IGC is evolving from a classical molecular biology institute toward quantitative, imaging-intensive, and computationally integrated life science research — making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects combining biology with physics, AI, or engineering.

How they like to work

IGC overwhelmingly leads its projects: 20 of 29 projects are coordinated by them, reflecting a strong PI-driven culture built on individual ERC and MSCA grants rather than large consortium management. Their participant roles tend to be in infrastructure or network projects (ELIXIR, INFRAFRONTIER, FIT2GO). With 112 unique partners across 29 countries, they are a well-connected hub, but their typical project is a small-team, investigator-led grant rather than a large multi-partner consortium.

IGC has collaborated with 112 distinct partners across 29 countries, giving them one of the broadest European networks for a Portuguese research institute. Their connections span Western and Southern Europe heavily, with additional reach through pan-European infrastructure projects like ELIXIR and INFRAFRONTIER.

What sets them apart

IGC stands out as Portugal's most ERC-dense life sciences institute, attracting top international talent through a combination of Gulbenkian Foundation backing and a researcher-friendly environment. Their unusual breadth — from Drosophila genetics to plant stress biology to data infrastructure — within a single institute makes them a versatile partner who can contribute biological expertise across multiple domains. For consortium builders, IGC offers the rare combination of Southern European geography (useful for Widening Participation) with Northern European-caliber research output.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CentrioleBirthDeath
  Their largest single grant (EUR 2M ERC Consolidator), running 6 years on centriole biology — represents IGC's flagship fundamental cell biology research.
• WOLBAKIAN
  Nearly EUR 2M ERC grant combining host-microbe interactions with Drosophila genetics and innate immunity — sits at the intersection of IGC's strongest research threads.
• SymbNET
  A Widening Participation Twinning project coordinated by IGC, signaling their role in building genomics and metabolomics capacity across less-connected European regions.